Hand tool having a holder for spare blades and the like

ABSTRACT

A holder for spare blades and the like mounted in the handle portion of a hand tool which holder is in the form of a tray pivotally mounted in the bottom wall of the handle for swinging movement between a closed position within the handle and an open position extending outwardly from the handle, the holder having a movable catch which in the closed position of the tray extends through an opening in a wall of the handle opposite said bottom wall for engagement with a keeper and being exposed at said opening for manual actuation to disengage the catch from the keeper.

United States Patent Inventors Robert P West West Simsbury; Robert S.Hyde, East Hartford, both oi, Conn. I Appl. No. 849,663 Filed Aug. 13,1969 Patented July 20, 1971 Assignee The Stanley Works New Britain,Conn.

HAND TOOL HAVING A HOLDER FOR SPARE Primary Examiner- Robert C. RiordonAssistant Examiner-J. C. Peters AltorneyPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb andChilton ABSTRACT: A holder for spare blades and the like mounted in thehandle portion of a hand tool which holder is in the form of a traypivotally mounted in the bottom wall of the handle for swinging movementbetween a closed position within the handle and an open positionextending outwardly from the handle, the holder having a movable catchwhich in the closed position of the tray extends through an opening in awall of the handle opposite said bottom wall for engagement with akeeper and being exposed at said opening for manual actuation todisengage the catch from the keeper.

PATENTED JUL 20 IBTl INVENTORS ROBERT F. WEST ROBERT S. HYDE ATTORNEYSHANDTOOL HAVING A HOLDER FORSPARE BLADES ANI)-'FI HZ-ILIKIEIv Thisinvention relates generally" to hand tools ofthe: type which have"replaceable cutters or other operating elements...

and? relates more specifically toa: storage arrangement for holding thespare cutters such as blades and the like in the handle portionof thetool in a rea'dil'y accessible manner.-

An. object of the invention is to" provide a storagearrangementforspare'blades-and' theliketo'p'ermit the blades and'theliketo'bestored'iwithinthe handle; portion ofa hand to'ol and arrangedso-that the blades; are easily accessiblewitho'ut need for disassemblingxthe handleportion of th'e tool:but without at the. same timedetracting from the appearance andutility'of the handle-portion, orrenderingit likely that the blades-will become released inadvertently ct-accidentally;

Nnother object isto provide such a storage arrangement which can befabricated andi assembled without imparting material extra cost to thehand'tooliand which is designed so that it willnotbesusceptible'tobreakage und'ernormal-conditions' of use and-willrhaveazlongrsenvice lifewithout nced for repair or'replacement.

Other objectswill be in part'obvious and in 'part pointed'out morein'detail hereinafter.

Abetter. understanding'of'the'invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed.description'and theaccompanying;

drawings of illustrative applications-ofthe invention.

ln'the drawing: FlGl l is -a side view of autility knife embodyingthepresent invention, the open position':of'the blade.holder'beinglshowninphantom;

FIG. 2 is-a perspective view of the blade'holder tray;

FIG. 3 is afragmentarysideview-ofithe knife partly in cross sectionwiththe blade'holder'in closed position and'also showing a stored lc'nifeblade;

FIG; 4ziS a'fragmentary sideview of the knife partly-in cross sectionwith the blade'holder in position slightly retracted from'fullyclosedposition; and

FlG. S'isan enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the |ine-5:5.ofFIG. 3.

Referring to the-drawings in detail, the present invention is shownembodied in a utility'knife ofthetype disclosed and claimedxin US. Pat.No. 3,107,426, issued Oct. 22; l963to the assignee of the presentinvention. ln this exemplaryihand tool, the handle or handgn'pportion-of the tool is formed of two complementary handle halves l'and2-which' fit together along surfaces-disposed generally in aplaneextending longitudinally of the knife and are held inassembledpositionbythe screw 3. The knife blade 4 extendingfrom'the forward end of thehandle is a retractable knife blade mounted on amovablecarriage-(not-shown) within the forward end of the handle andactuatablebythe thumbpiece SQTh'e full configuration of the blade 4 isthe same-as that of the spare blade 6 shown in stored position in FIG.-3."

As best shown =inrFlG. 5, the handle halves'l, 2 are inter nallychannelledat 7 and 8; respectively, to providean inter nal storagecompartment having :sidewalls 9; 10 and a top wall formed bythe-abutting flanges l 1; l2IfThe'flanges forming the bottom 'wallof the"knife are .not'ched as shownat "Band to form anrelongated longitudinalopening or slot in the bottom wall providingaccess to the storagecompartment.

Tofacilitate storage of spare blad'es'in the storage compartvment andpermiteasy access thereto there is provideda tray l5:as bestshown *inH612. In "the preferred embodiment the tray l'5'.is formed. in itsentirety as a single'molded plastic piece. The-tray comprises asupporting-backwall l6'having;

an end flange l7and bottom flange 18 integrally formed thereon.Tfunnions 19,'"20' are formed adjacent the intersection ofthe flanges"17, l8whic hitrunnions are received in bearings -21,- 22Ifo'rmed in thehandle halves land 2 respec tivelyadja'cent the forward end of thematches 13,14 providing? the access openingto the storage counter. Whenassembled in: the l'tnife, the tray 151s pivotally mounted by thetrunnions 1-9, 20" and bearings 2 1 22 for swinging movement between afully closed position as shown fig. 3 and an open position asshowninphantom" linesin FIG. 1-. A tab 23 on the flange 18- whichisreceivedin a slot- 24' in the bottom of handle half 1 providesas'topwhenthe tray is' in fully closed position. As best shownin FIGS. 3 and 5,the bottom flange 18 is dimensioned so that it substantially closes theaccess opening provided by the notches 13} 1 4 and forms a continuationof the bottom wall ofthe handle when the tray is in fully closedposition.

lnte'grally joinedat'on'eend onth'eend of the flange l8 opposite fromthe flange L7 but not connected to the backwall lti 'isanangularlyrelated resiliently'flexible arm 25 forming an end wall-forthe tray-andhaving a head portion 26 at its free end'provided'with are'arwardlyextending'flan'ge' 27- forming a catch. The headportion 26also forms a thumbpiece formanual actuation of thecatch-and,to-facilitate its use for this purpose,itis suitableknurled'orgroovedin its upper surface as indicated'at28. Whenthetray isinfullyclosedp'osition, the catch 27 engages a keeperin the" form of a=lip' 29formed at one end ofthenotch 3 0 which'is located in the upper wall ofthe handle and offset from the end of the access opening wh'ere'thetrunnions 19,-2 0 and bearings 21, 22'- are located. The forwardendofthe'h'ead portion'2G'is'steppedas indicated at 3 to provideclearance withrespect to'the edge 32of the notch'duringunlatchingxmovem'entof thear'm 25.

The 1ip'29 'isrecessed b'elow the outer surface of the upperwall'ofthe'knife'therebyproviding a recess or pocket in the upperwallpartiall y. enclosing. the-head portion'26 of the arm 25 when'thetray is latched'in closed'p'o'sition so thatonly the knurled orgrooved'portion 28 -protrudes. Below the lip 29 there is-provideda-camming surface 33 which acts as a strike forth'e catch 2 7 and' actsto move theff'r'ee end of the arm 25 inwardly or to th'e-l'eft as viewedinFlGi 4 when the-tray approaches the" fully closed position. Since thearm 25 is resiliently. flexibleit acts like a spring-and being loaded bythe cam'ming surface-33duringkclosing movement of the tray, it isassured thata firm and positiveengagement exists between the--catch"2 7an'd th'e k'eeper29; Exceptfor'the' engagement which takes placebetweenthe catch27 a'nd the camming surface"33"and keeper 29at or near 'fully'closed position of the tray; the parts are" so dimensioned as to permitample clearanceduringthe remainder of the opening and closingmovement sothat the tray will have a substantially free swingingmovem'ent.

An advantage of the structure of the-present invention is that withinreasonable lim'its,'th'e 'tray l5'may be dimensioned to correspondto theshape 'ofth'e spare blades or other tools which'are to be accommodated.lit the specific embodiment shown'in the drawings, for example, theangular relation of the flange l7 and -arm"25 with'respect to the flange18"gives the tray Isa-generallytrapezoidalconfiguration'which isparticularly suitable'for receptionof the'blades 6which are similarlyshaped. It also will be'noted that thereis sufficient depth to the traytoperrnit stackin'gof a pluralityiof spare blades 6'as best illustratedin FIG. 5;

Tl-le' manipulation of the tray l5-andactuation of the catch are' easyoperations 'toperform and it hasfbeen noted that the averageright-handed user of the tool, when performing these operations willnormally tilt or turn the handle slightly clockwise, thus assuring thatthe spare blades 6 will rest firmly onthetray l5 betweenthe flanges 17and 'l8and arm 25; and not become'inadvertentlydisengaged therefrom.

Although'easy to operate, the tray l5and its catch 27 do not interferewith the normal'operation'of the tool or detract fromitsappearancesince-only a portion of head 26 protrudes when thetray is in fullyclosed positionand this is located so that itis normally protected 'by.thehand 'of the operator from inadvertentactuation. Also, since "the'entire tray can be formedofrnoldedplasticand can be readilynm'ounted'inthe together, the same may be provided at little extra cost, but atthe same time providing a rugged and durable assembly which is notlikely to become broken or require repair or replacement over longperiods of normal usage.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, variousmodifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

We claim:

1. In a hand tool, an elongated housing having sidewalls and top andbottom walls forming a generally tubular handgrip portion, a slot in thebottom wall of the housing providing an access opening to the interiorof the housing and providing a storage compartment for blades and thelike, and means for positioning blade and the like in the storagecompartment and permitting easy access thereto comprising a tray pivotedon the housing adjacent one end of the access opening for swingingmovement between a closed position within the storage compartment and anopen position extending outwardly from the housing, a flange on saidtray forming a continuation of the bottom wall of the housing andclosing the access opening when the tray is in closed position, andmeans for releasably retaining the tray in closed position comprising anopening in the top wall of the housing offset from said one end of theaccess opening and having an edge portion forming a keeper, and a memberon the tray having a movable end portion received in the opening in thetop wall when the tray is in closed position and forming a catchengageable with the keeper, said end portion being exposed at theopening in the top wall for manual actuation to release the catch.

2. In a hand tool as defined in claim 1 and wherein the edge portion ofthe opening in the top wall forming a keeper is recessed below the outersurface of the top wall of the housing to form a pocket partiallyenclosing the catch when the tray is in closed position.

3. In a hand tool as defined in claim I and wherein the said member onthe tray is an arm connected at one end to the tray and having atransverse flange at its free end forming the v catch.

4. In a hand tool as defined in claim 1 and wherein the interior of thehousing is formed with a camming surface adjacent the said lip providingastrike for engagement by the catch as the tray is moved toward fullyclosed position.

5. In a hand tool as defined inclaim 3 and wherein the member on thetray is a flexible arm, and wherein the arm and the tray including itsflange are formed as a single molded plastic unit.

6. In a hand tool, an elongated housing having sidewalls and top andbottom edge walls forming a generally tubular handgrip portion, a slotin one of the edge walls of the housing providing an access opening tothe interior of the housing and providing a storage compartment forblades and the like, and means for positioning blades and the like inthe storage compartment and permitting easy access thereto comprising atray pivoted on the housing adjacent one end of the access opening forswinging movement between a closed position within the storagecompartment and an open position extending outwardly from the housing,flange on said tray forming a continuation of said one edge wall of thehousing and closing the access opening when the tray is in closedposition, and means for releasably retaining the tray in closed positioncomprising an opening in the other of said edge walls forming a keeperon the housing and a member on the tray having a movable end portionforming a catch engageable with the keeper and being exposed for manualactuation to release the catch.

7. A hand tool as defined in claim 6 wherein the opening forming thekeeper is offset from said one end of the access opening the catch beingbeing received in the offset opening when the tray is in closedposition.

8. A hand tool as defined in claim 6 wherein the said member on the trayis an arm connected at one end to the tray and having a transverseflange at its free end forming the catch. I 9. A hand tool as defined inclaim 6 wherein the interior of the housing is formed with a cammingsurface adjacent the said keeper providing a strike for engagement bythe catch as the tray is moved toward fully closed position.

10. A hand tool as defined in claim 8 wherein the member on the tray isa flexible arm, and wherein the arm and the tray including its flangeare formed as a single molded plastic unit.

1. In a hand tool, an elongated housing having sidewalls and top andbottom walls forming a generally tubular handgrip portion, a slot in thebottom wall of the housing providing an access opening to the interiorof the housing and providing a storage compartment for blades and thelike, and means for positioning blade and the like in the storagecompartment and permitting easy access thereto comprising a tray pivotedon the housing adjacent one end of the access opening for swingingmovement between a closed position within the storage compartment and anopen position extending outwardly from the housing, a flange on saidtray forming a continuation of the bottom wall of the housing andclosing the access opening when the tray is in closed position, andmeans for releasably retaining the tray in closed position comprising anopening in the top wall of the housing offset from said one end of theaccess opening and having an edge portion forming a keeper, and a memberon the tray having a movable end portion received in the opening in thetop wall when the tray is in closed position and forming a catchengageable with the keeper, said end portion being exposed at theopening in the top wall for manual actuation to release the catch.
 2. Ina hand tool as defined in claim 1 and wherein the edge portion of theopening in the top wall forming a keeper is recessed below the outersurface of the top wall of the housing to form a pocket partiallyenclosing the catch when the tray is in closed position.
 3. In a handtool as defined in claim 1 and wherein the said member on the tray is anarm connected at one end to the tray and having a transverse flange atits free end forming the catch.
 4. In a hand tool as defined in claim 1and wherein the interior of the housing is formed with a camming surfaceadjacent the said lip providing a strike for engagement by the catch asthe tray is moved toward fully closed position.
 5. In a hand tool asdefined in claim 3 and wherein the member on the tray is a flexible arm,and wherein the arm and the tray including its flange are formed as asingle molded plastic unit.
 6. In a hand tool, an elongated housinghaving sidewalls and top and bottom edge walls forming a generallytubular handgrip portion, a slot in one of the edge walls of the housingproviding an access opening to the interior of the housing and providinga storage compartment for blades and the like, and means for positioningblades and the like in the storage compartment and permitting easyaccess thereto comprising a tray pivoted on the housing adjacent one endof the access opening for swinging movement between a closed positionwithin the storage compartment and an open position extending outwardlyfrom the housing, flange on said tray forming a continuation of said oneedge wall of the housing and closing the access opening when the tray isin closed position, and means for releasably retaining the tray inclosed position comprising an opening in the other of said edge wallsforming a keeper on the housing and a member on the tray having amovable end portion forming a catch engageable with the keeper and beingexposed for manual actuation to release the catch.
 7. A hand tool asdefined in claim 6 wherein the opening forming the keeper is offset fromsaid one end of the access opening the catch being being received in theoffset opening when the tray is in closed position.
 8. A hand tool asdefined in claim 6 wherein the said member on the tray is an armconnected at one end to the tray and having a transverse flange at itsfree end forming the catch.
 9. A hand tool as defined in claim 6 whereinthe interior of the housing is formed with a camming surface adjacentthe said keeper providing a strike for engagement by the catch as thetray is moved toward fully closed position.
 10. A hand tool as definedin claim 8 wherein the member on the tray is a flexible arm, and whereinthe arm and the tray including its flange are formed as a single moldedplastic unit.